Mikel Arteta Reveals Private Conversation With Declan Rice

Mikel Arteta has revealed a private chat he held with Declan Rice ahead of the season, insisting the Arsenal midfielder now 'needs to prove that on the pitch' as he looks to take him to another level.

Arsenal fended off Manchester City to secure Rice from London rivals West Ham United for a club-record fee in 2023. 

At the time, the £105million move ranked as the second most expensive Premier League transfer in history, behind only Enzo Fernández's switch to Chelsea.

However, six bigger moves in the last three years have since pushed it down to eighth in the list of the most expensive transfers to Engand's top flight.

In the summer that Rice joined the Gunners, Arteta explained what he would bring to the side, 'His leadership, his aura, obviously the experience he already has in this league. He’s going to bring the team to a different dimension.'

He furthered, 'I see him like a lighthouse, he will light up the others and improve the others, and make the team better.'

In his three full seasons since arriving in north London, he has scored 21 goals and provided 38 assists, leading to supporters chanting that he was signed for 'half price', a sentiment his former boss David Moyes has publicly agreed with.

This season, he has already contributed to three league goals in six games, each of which put his side ahead.

After his latest assist, a clever flick to set up Bruno Guimarães' winner against Leeds United on Saturday afternoon, Arteta revealed the instructions he gave to Rice before the campaign kicked off.

When asked if he had focused on Rice's final-third passing after the comeback victory, he explained, 'Yes. I went to him, and it is a private conversation, but I said you are not the lighthouse anymore, it is something else', before adding that Rice 'needs to prove that on the pitch.'

Arteta then explained that he would be able to share more on Rice's new role once the season draws to a close.

Rice returned from a family break in Dubai last week, after withdrawing from the England squad for load management reasons.

The midfielder is now reportedly close to extending his stay in north London, a deal which is expected to be one of the club's biggest player contracts in history.

After assisting the winner in his first game since his return, he will be hoping to continue his form as the Gunners welcome Lille for their first home Champions League match of the campaign.

The trophy cruelly eluded Arsenal last season, as they were beaten on penalties by Paris Saint-Germain in the final in Budapest.

Arteta's side have progressed further in the Champions League each year, reaching the quarter-final, the semi-final, and then last season's final. They will be hoping to go one step further at the fourth time of asking, and Rice will be key to making that happen.